Voters surge to polls in Tri-Cities region

Staff report news@fosters.com

Tuesday

Nov 6, 2018 at 12:24 PMNov 6, 2018 at 6:41 PM

Voter turnout was strong in the Tri-Cities region Tuesday as the polls opened for midterm Election Day with New Hampshire and Maine voters deciding on governor's races, congressional races and state Legislature seats. Big numbers were seen in Dover, Durham, Rochester, Somersworth and other communities.

Rochester officials were projecting an overall turnout as high as 50 to 60 percent. They said it felt like a presidential election in many respects.

East Rochester’s Ward 1 was among several of Rochester’s six wards that saw a heavy flurry of voting throughout the morning. Ward 1 crossed 500 ballots just after 10 a.m., with counts jumping by 30 or 40 votes every five or so minutes before and after that.

“This is how every election should be,” said City Clerk Kelly Walters. Walters said Rochester also saw a large spike in new voter registration leading up to Election Day.

When asked why they came out to the polls Tuesday, many Rochester voters spoke of their civic duty to vote and referenced issues like health care, education and the economy.

However, the most common answer from local residents, regardless of party, involved displeasure with the increase in vitriol and political tribalism.

“I won’t miss the advertisements,” said Jennifer Kinville as she campaigned at the polls for her dad, incumbent Republican state Sen. Jim Gray, District 6’s incumbent Republican. “It can go back to the car and couch commercials.”

“I feel (turnout) is up because everything is a critical breaking point in our country right now,” said Beth Grosso, a social worker.

Wanda, a Rochester voter who declined to give her last name, said she for Chris Pappas in the U.S. First Congressional District race because, in part, of Eddie Edwards campaign’s attack ads.

“I can’t stand the hate,” said Wanda, who said she also likes Pappas’ stance on healthcare issues. “I don’t want any more of the hate.”

Dover polls also started with a surge of voters. At Dover’s Ward 1 at St. Mary’s Church Hall on Chestnut, the line wrapped around the corner of Fourth Street by 8 a.m. when the polls opened.

Even 45 minutes later there was a line when Debra Galinsky arrived to vote. Since standing is challenging for her, she decided to come back around lunch time. “It’s good to see,” she said of the line.

Galinsky said there were both Democrats and Republicans on the ballot she was considering voting for. For her, civility was a big thing. “I’d like to see everybody come together,” she said. Civility was a constant theme among Dover voters.

Howard Proctor, a Dover Ward 4 voter said it was the first time he’s ever voted a straight ticket in his life. He said he’s been a registered Democrat and Republican over the years, but now he’s an independent. “We need to have a change in Washington,” he said, noting he wanted to see more civility among politicians.

A Ward 6 voter who only identified himself by his first name Ron feels the economy is heading in the right direction, but feels the presidents rehetoric is too decisive and that “a better example can be set.” Ron said he tends to lean Democrat but voted a split ticket in this election.

There was no classes at Oyster River High School Tuesday, but campus seemed busier Tuesday than when school is in session. Town Moderator Thomas Richardson spent much of his time directing the seemingly endless stream of voters arriving at the school gymnasium.

By 11:30, a more than 2,000 people had voted. “For a midterm, it’s busy. It’s like a presidential election,” he said.

Durham Town Administrator Todd Selig said there were two representatives from the attorney general’s office and two from the secretary of state’s office at the polling location where typically only one representative from the AG’s office is present. There also were numerous attorneys observing the proceedings. There were many tables for same-day registration voters.

In Somersworth, state Rep. Cattle Sandler, standing outside the Summersworth Historical Museum in Ward 2, had just returned from Dover Ward 5, where she said she saw "the biggest crowd I've ever seen."

"It was stretched out the door of the building all the way down to the woods toward the end of the parking lot," Sandler said. "People were waiting in the lot for parking spaces. It was a really good turnout."

Earlier in Dover, state Sen. David Watters, D-Dover, said he planned to spend about one hour at each of the wards where he's on the ballot. He said he was amazed at the turnout he'd seen so far.

"For all the arguing and all the signs, all the yelling is over," Watters said. "People are voting and the spirit's good, too. Democrats and Republicans get to kid each other standing out here with the signs. We're all friends, at least for this day."

Watters said he anticipates the Democrats will have a good day nationwide, with the vote between Chris Pappas and Eddie Edwards in New Hampshire House District 1 being indicative of how the national vote will turn out.

John Doyle, Brian Early and Kyle Stucker contributed to this report.

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